He Walked by Night
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- Publication date
- 1948
- Usage
- Public Domain Mark 1.0
Richard Basehart becomes the target of an intense manhunt. You'll find that this copy is sharper than the version that was already here at the Archive. |
- Addeddate
- 2011-04-11 18:48:23
- Color
- black & white
- Director
- Alfred L. Werker
- Ia_orig__runtime
- 78 minutes 54 seconds
- Identifier
- He_Walked_by_Night_1948
- Run time
- 1:18:54
- Sound
- sound
- Year
- 1948
comment
Reviews
Reviewer:
Bluize56
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favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
April 13, 2021
Subject: Standout performance, and the beginning of a 60's icon.
Subject: Standout performance, and the beginning of a 60's icon.
This is an enjoyable film, well shot and edited. The pace is brisk, and therefore holds your interest. Richard Baseheart's performance particularly stands out - while we never know Roy's motivations, we see some behaviors displayed suggesting something deeper that may trouble him.
It is fun also to see here Jack Webb as the weapons expert. According to some, it is during the filming here that he came upon the ideas for what would become 'Dragnet'. You can certainly see the similarities in the narrations and the opening title card.
Great choice of setting for finale - watch for it! Enjoy!
It is fun also to see here Jack Webb as the weapons expert. According to some, it is during the filming here that he came upon the ideas for what would become 'Dragnet'. You can certainly see the similarities in the narrations and the opening title card.
Great choice of setting for finale - watch for it! Enjoy!
Reviewer:
ebweston
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favoritefavoritefavorite -
April 10, 2018
Subject: The names have been changed...
Subject: The names have been changed...
An enjoyable film, but the true story about "Roy" is more interesting than this fictionalized account. This film is loosely based on the real life Erwin Mathias Walker, who did not die in a shoot out with the police; he spent some years in prison, was paroled in the 1970s, and died in 2008. How do I know this? Erwin Walker was my cousin. The film contains certain details that are very close to the facts of the real life case, but also many differences, and above all, leaves out Roy/Erwin's motivation for his actions. He was a deeply troubled, and complex person.
Reviewer:
Bdaboy
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favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
March 29, 2017
Subject: Good Movies!
Subject: Good Movies!
It was very good. The acting was superb.
Reviewer:
eggbone
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favoritefavoritefavorite -
March 22, 2016
Subject: Should be called "trapped like a rat"...
Subject: Should be called "trapped like a rat"...
...you will know why at the end.
A good murder mystery? YES.
Film Noir...NO
Cimematoghraphy and screenplay make the mark, as does the acting., though somewhat predictable.
Mr. Drucker and Joe Friday(refernece 1960s TV characters) was a pleasant surprise.
Overall a watchable film.
A good murder mystery? YES.
Film Noir...NO
Cimematoghraphy and screenplay make the mark, as does the acting., though somewhat predictable.
Mr. Drucker and Joe Friday(refernece 1960s TV characters) was a pleasant surprise.
Overall a watchable film.
Reviewer:
Kentworth
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favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
April 5, 2015
Subject: Excellent police drama
Subject: Excellent police drama
Solid five stars. Good acting, good sets, direction, and the story is compelling. Solid performances and a touch of humor here and there to put a smile on your face during a tough police drama. Highly recommended watch, it will keep your interest. Even a few twists and turns along the way.
Reviewer:
floridacracker8188
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favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
December 26, 2013
Subject: Great find.
Subject: Great find.
A surprisingly good movie. never lost interest and a straight forward story line.
Reviewer:
mickdanger
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favoritefavoritefavorite -
September 26, 2013
Subject: Jack Webb gets an idea
Subject: Jack Webb gets an idea
During production, Jack Webb hung out with the police technical advisor. They discussed making a tv series centered around a police detective, which eventually became Dragnet.
Reviewer:
katperrr
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favoritefavoritefavorite -
July 4, 2013
Subject: Roy
Subject: Roy
I liked the movie, but would have been more interesting if they gave more background on Roy.
Reviewer:
Framan
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favoritefavoritefavorite -
September 14, 2012
Subject: I don't know why it was called "He Walked by Night"
Subject: I don't know why it was called "He Walked by Night"
I agree with Deichbrand_1. It is a good movie to watch but the characters lack depth. I would guess that it stood on all of the advanced detective work at that time.
Worth a download.
Worth a download.
Reviewer:
Deichbrand_1 -
favoritefavorite -
July 17, 2011
Subject: Good movie ... but what with some strange loopholes
Subject: Good movie ... but what with some strange loopholes
(Contains a bit of spoilers!!!)
First of all, the movie is good to watch, but maybe too short for the complexity of the story. Some aspects come to the mind:
- what are the motives for Roy? Why does he need the money?
- what does he do besides stealing stuff? When did everything start and why did it escalate to this strange situation?
The plot does not hold together and the focus of the story is way too heavy on the police. For the viewer it is simply impossible to get behind it all and to understand the intentions of the persons. In the introduction, there is this vague reference to a 'real' crime, but the film does not live up to aspect. A lot of characters remain shallow and are unable to thoroughly fascinate.
Therefore, while the film is actually good and fun to watch, the moment you think about it, you will discover holes in the plot of the size of a planet. Do not expect too much ...
First of all, the movie is good to watch, but maybe too short for the complexity of the story. Some aspects come to the mind:
- what are the motives for Roy? Why does he need the money?
- what does he do besides stealing stuff? When did everything start and why did it escalate to this strange situation?
The plot does not hold together and the focus of the story is way too heavy on the police. For the viewer it is simply impossible to get behind it all and to understand the intentions of the persons. In the introduction, there is this vague reference to a 'real' crime, but the film does not live up to aspect. A lot of characters remain shallow and are unable to thoroughly fascinate.
Therefore, while the film is actually good and fun to watch, the moment you think about it, you will discover holes in the plot of the size of a planet. Do not expect too much ...
Reviewer:
robmh
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favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
June 21, 2011
Subject: Great copy and well encoded...
Subject: Great copy and well encoded...
made this film a pleasure to watch. Kudos
Reviewer:
splue
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favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
May 21, 2011
Subject: & Splue walks by day
Subject: & Splue walks by day
Weary & hungover
mojitos.....................u know
mojitos.....................u know
Reviewer:
rclo
-
favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
May 21, 2011
Subject: I've seen this before, but it's worth seeing again.
Subject: I've seen this before, but it's worth seeing again.
This is a good flick, one of Jack Webb's earlier forays into the cop world. I realized I had seen it previously when the antagonist's name was revealed: Roy. I think the film might have been on TCM.
Anyway, solid flick. Basehart gives a bravuro performance, and Webb gives a preview of Sgt. Friday's no-nonsense approach to policing. The sewer scenes are reminiscent of "The Third Man." It's a shame that they never ventured a guess as to what the antagonist's motivations were.
Note the editorial slip-up when Webb's character analyzes the spent cartridge casings and observes the same striations on three casings - indicating that the casings were ejected from the same gun. The stamped codes on the back of each casing are in the identical orientation relative to the striations (i.e., between the "M"s - a practical impossibility unless all of the cartridges had been loaded into the magazine and rotated so that all of the stamped codes would be in the same relative positions.
Anyway, solid flick. Basehart gives a bravuro performance, and Webb gives a preview of Sgt. Friday's no-nonsense approach to policing. The sewer scenes are reminiscent of "The Third Man." It's a shame that they never ventured a guess as to what the antagonist's motivations were.
Note the editorial slip-up when Webb's character analyzes the spent cartridge casings and observes the same striations on three casings - indicating that the casings were ejected from the same gun. The stamped codes on the back of each casing are in the identical orientation relative to the striations (i.e., between the "M"s - a practical impossibility unless all of the cartridges had been loaded into the magazine and rotated so that all of the stamped codes would be in the same relative positions.
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